Category Archives: History

Lady Franklin’s Reel

Posted on 05/05/2015 by Heather

  “…the assemblage was brilliant, the punch superlative, and the dancing extremely active, if not elegant.” Jane Franklin1, Government House, Hobart, 1838 Most histories of the Franklins concentrate on Sir John’s explorations and disappearance in the Arctic, supplemented with stories … Continue reading →

Posted in History, music | 4 Comments

François Girard, dancing master, convict

Posted on 28/10/2013 by Heather

No portrait of François Girard exists, yet from the convict records a fascinating image emerges.  Twenty-seven years old upon arrival in Sydney of “dashing appearance and pleasing address” 1, François was 5 feet 6 inches tall, with a sallow complexion, … Continue reading →

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Lord Castlereagh’s Waltz

Posted on 16/03/2013 by Heather

Le Sylph: An Elegant Collection of Twenty Four Country Dances, Thomas Wilson, London, 1815. Listen to Lord Castlereagh’s Waltz as a midi or mp3.   Download the pdf Country dance: Longways set for three couples. A 1-4 The 3 ladies and the … Continue reading →

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Clog dancing

Posted on 10/02/2013 by Heather

English clog dancing, which was hugely popular in the nineteenth and early twentieth century in Australian, has almost completely disappeared from our tradition.  However, there are many references and a wealth of collected tunes.  A number of dances have survived, … Continue reading →

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The Quadrille Arrives.

Posted on 08/02/2013 by Heather

This page will soon be updated with information about The Currency Lasses, Sydney (1825), and the Mundy Quadrilles, Tasmania (1837) Development Arrival in Australia Difficult first steps Quadrille mania Music Listen to Ellard’s La Sydney Development of the quadrille. The … Continue reading →

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Captain Woodriff & The Wheatstone Collections

Posted on 20/09/2012 by Heather

A selection of elegant & fashionable country dances, reels, waltzes &c. [music] : for the ensuing season 1808, including those much admired Neapolitan & Maltese pandean airs, arranged for the pianoforte or harp, alto flute or patent flageolet : with … Continue reading →

Posted in History | 11 Comments

Australia’s first piano

Posted on 06/05/2011 by Heather

In London during the early 1760s small, rectangular, five octave keyboard instruments started to be produced. Unlike the harpsichord or spinet, these were capable of playing both loudly and softly – the forte piano or fortepiano. The demand for these … Continue reading →

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Sailor’s Hornpipe

Posted on 10/02/2011 by Heather

January 21, 1788. The Governor accompanied by Capt. Hunter & some other officers went in Boats to examine Port Jackson….The next day one of the Party took a fife on Shore played several tunes to the Natives who were highly … Continue reading →

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